God Chooses David as King: Three Activities for Preschool Families

What matters
most to God is what is in our heart, not what we look like. In our materialistic culture, this is a truth
that we all struggle to live out. We
often ascent to it with our words, but deny it with our actions. Let the story of God choosing David as King
encourage you this week as you reinforce this important lesson with your
children.

HIGHLIGHTS from Sunday…

This week your child learned that the Lord rejected Saul as king and told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to visit a man named Jesse. The Lord told Samuel to fill his horn with oil because he had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be king. God said he needed a king that loves him and will teach the people to love the Lord. Samuel obeyed the Lord and met Jesse and his sons. Jesse had seven strong sons and one young son. After seeing the first seven, strong sons, the Lord had not confirmed to Samuel that he had chosen any of them to be king. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons. Jesse laughed and said yes, but he is young and weak and sent for him any way. David came running and the Lord immediately told Samuel, “This is the one. He is a man after my own heart.” Right then in front of his father and brothers, David was anointed king. David did not become king right away. He had to grow up and wait a long time before he actually became king. (1 Samuel 16; 2 Samuel 5)

Teaching Truths:

What matters most to God is what is in our heart, not what we look like.

Memory Verse:

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

Here’s a simple song to help your child (and you) memorize this week’s memory verse!

3 Activities that remind us that God cares about what is in our heart:

1. Bag Snack

Grab two bags: one a plain, brown one and the other a fancy gift bag. In the plain, brown one, place your child’s favorite snack food. In the gift bag, place your child’s
least favorite food. During snack time, let your child choose and open each bag. While
he is eating his snack, talk to him about how it only mattered what was on the inside of
the bag, not how it looked on the outside. Read the bible story of how God chooses
David to be king and how God looked at what was in David’s heart, not what was on the
outside. Use these questions to talk with your child.

What do you think is important to God?

What makes you special to God?

2. In Our Hearts

What matters most to God is what is in our heart, not what we look like. Cut a large
heart out of construction paper for your child. On one side of the heart have your child
draw pictures of things that describe a heart that is not pleasing God. On the other
side of the heart, have him draw pictures of things that describe a heart that pleases
God.

3. Pop-Up Card

While at the grocery store, grab a simple pop-up greeting card. Then at home,
tape or glue plain construction paper to the outside of the card. Tell your child
you have a special treat for him and show him the card. Talk about how it is
very plain on the outside, then have him open the card to see the fun pop-up
on the inside. Talk about how what matters to God is what is in our heart, not
what we look like.

Pray

Dear God, we know that you care about
how we love you and others,
not what things we have or
how we look. Please help us
to have hearts that love you
and want to serve you. Amen

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